Most "tasteful" bassists for their music?

cronker · #1 10-13-2012, 11:18 PM

Hey.
I'm a huge fan of Geddy Lee and Rush in general, but sometimes I feel he overplays (hmm, most times really).
I like it when a good player just knows how to 'sit' in the song.
I have tried in my whole career to be "tasteful" and not flashy.
Who do you regard highly in this?

Myself? I like John Paul Jones (always spot on with note choice)
Discuss

M.Wrenn · #2 10-13-2012, 11:20 PM

Reid Anderson - The Bad Plus
Tim Lefebvre

brendanbassist · #3 10-13-2012, 11:22 PM

Pino.

ransombass · #4 10-13-2012, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brendanbassist

Pino.

+1

Nobody better at this than Pino. I also like George Porter Jr and Willie Weeks for the same reason.

cronker · #5 10-13-2012, 11:32 PM

I'm also feeling it with the session guys, always in the pocket?

jetbike · #6 10-13-2012, 11:42 PM

Billy Sheehan......Bwah, ha, ha!

I must say I'm fond of Juan Alderete. He's obviously an amazing player, but in the chaos of The Mars Volta seems to hold it all together.

Marial · #7 10-13-2012, 11:45 PM

Tony Levin with Peter Gabriel, the very definition of tastefulness, imho.

hachi kid · #8 10-13-2012, 11:45 PM

actually, Billy is tasteful. go back and listen to a lot of stuff he's done...90% of the time, he's usually playing right with the kick drum.

hachi kid · #9 10-13-2012, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marial

Tony Levin with Peter Gabriel, the very definition of tastefulness, imho.

+infinity

Inverse Kinetix · #10 10-14-2012, 12:16 AM

anthony jackson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLdKObM2OJ8

bassmatt4792 · #11 10-14-2012, 12:18 AM

Duff McKagan. Especially because he came from an era where most 80s rock bassists just rode the root note forever. I might just have the "Appetite" (double pun intended) but his lines are super tasty to me.

Emilym80 · #12 10-14-2012, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cronker

Hey.
I'm a huge fan of Geddy Lee and Rush in general, but sometimes I feel he overplays (hmm, most times really).
I like it when a good player just knows how to 'sit' in the song.
I have tried in my whole career to be "tasteful" and not flashy.
Who do you regard highly in this?

Myself? I like John Paul Jones (always spot on with note choice)
Discuss

I think as far as Rush's music goes, Geddy plays pretty much what it calls for. I think, though it'd be overplaying for most groups/music, his lines in Hemispheres are perfect, despite being really busy. That said, IMO when he tries to play simpler lines he isn't too good at making simple lines interesting- I think Pino is one of the most tasteful players for whatever the music calls for and can make something simple really beautiful, expressive and tasteful. I think Rocco Prestia is another player who plays for the music, as well as Mick Rutherford from Genesis and John Deacon from Queen. Especially John Deacon in my opinion.

Darren Low · #13 10-14-2012, 02:49 AM

I really enjoy the work of John Deacon from Queen

gumbynotpokey · #14 10-14-2012, 05:04 AM

Roger Waters. He's a great example of what you're talking about, IMO.

JimK · #15 10-14-2012, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cronker

I'm also feeling it with the session guys, always in the pocket?

Agree.
Chuck Rainey
Willie Weeks
Will Lee
Gary King
Anthony Jackson
etc...

JimK · #16 10-14-2012, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brendanbassist

Pino.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ransombass

+1

Nobody better at this than Pino. I also like George Porter Jr and Willie Weeks for the same reason.

You guys have heard Pino's 80s stuff with Go West & Paul Young, right? Pretty busy...I have seen a few Pino threads around here: Almost 2 camps...those relatively new who like Pino's "simple" Nu-Groove/rhythms & those who prefer the '80s fretless busy grooves/melodicism.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emilym80

I think as far as Rush's music goes, Geddy plays pretty much what it calls for. I think, though it'd be overplaying for most groups/music, his lines in Hemispheres are perfect, despite being really busy.

Agree...it's a 3-piece group playing some intricate material...especially live, they would need to stretch & embellish & fill up the air.

Quote:

I think Pino is one of the most tasteful players for whatever the music calls for and can make something simple really beautiful, expressive and tasteful.

Again...check out Pino's '80s Go West material.

Rockbassist4 · #17 10-14-2012, 05:23 AM

James Jamerson

John Deacon

Adam Clayton

**bassdude51** · #18 10-14-2012, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimK

Agree.
Chuck Rainey
Willie Weeks
Will Lee
Gary King
Anthony Jackson
etc...

JimK already mentioned him.

Willie Weeks is a good one!

also
Stu Cook (CCR) one of my favorites.
Bob Babbit
Bob Glaub
Jerry Schiff (Doors, Elvis many top 40s hits 60s & 70s)
Carol Kaye
Tim Drummond (Ry Cooder, Bob Dylan and many others)

Actually, a long list of many excellent bass players "that do the job correctly" of being a "real bassist"! But there's not much glory for them because slapping and over play is what draws attention. Soloist bass players. Front men bassists.

Lots of dead bass players in your catagory.

James Jamerson
Duck Dunn
others

**bassdude51** · #19 10-14-2012, 05:36 AM

Final comment......................

Geddy Lee is in a power trio band so he has to over play the bass to fill in space. Kind of like John Entwhistle of The Who, who during live shows not only played bass but also sort of a lead guitar since Pete was doing mostly power chords and chord note picking.

I like how Geddy uses notes from common major and minor scales for ascends and descends for chord changes, much like jazz players use walking bass lines.

cnltb · #20 10-14-2012, 06:13 AM

To me one that stands out on electric is Tony Levin.